Butler's triple lifts Bulls past Wizards

Reuters/The Sports Xchange

Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends in the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Photo by Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters.

Forward Mike Dunleavy scored 35 points and swingman Jimmy Butler sank the go-ahead three-pointer with 24 seconds left as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Washington Wizards 100-97 in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Wizards hold a 2-1 series lead.

Dunleavy made eight of 10 shots from beyond the arc and 12 of 18 attempts overall.

Butler's second three-pointer of the game came after Washington erased a sizable fourth-quarter deficit for the third straight game and did so after power forward Nene was ejected with 8:28 remaining.

Butler scored 15 points and forward Carlos Boozer had 14 for the Bulls. Led by Dunleavy, Chicago made 12 of 24 three-pointers.

Guard Bradley Beal scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter for the Wizards, who won the opening two games of the series in Chicago.

Guard John Wall had 23 points, but the All-Star missed two free throws with the game tied at 91-91 and 1:27 remaining.

After each team had an empty possession, Butler drained a three-pointer from the right wing to put Chicago ahead for good.